Wash-board



(No Model.)

N- B- LITTLFJl Patented Aug. 4, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON B. LITTLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,126, dated August4, 1891. y

Application led April Z5, 1891. Serial No. 390.389. (No model.)

To aZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, NELSON B. LITTLE, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vash-Boards, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional view of a tubshowing the method of adjustment of myimproved wash-board, and Fig. 2 isa perspective view of one of the brackets.

rash-boards as heretofore constructed have consisted of a board providedat its lower end with legs, by means of which it was su pported in placein the tub, the legs resting upon the bottom of the tub at one side andthe board resting upon the upper edge of the tub at the other end. Thismethod of construction renders it difcult to obtain access to thecontents of the tub under the board, as the legs take up a great deal ofspace in the tub.

The object of my invention is to provide a wash-board which will besupported upon the edge of the tub in such manner that the lower end ofthe board will not extend to the bottom of the tub, so that the contentsof the tub may be easily reached. I accomplish this object ashereinafter specifi ed, and as illustrated in the drawings.

That which I deem to be new will be pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents the tub.

B represents the wash-board. 'lhe washboard B is provided with theordinary rubbing-surface, which may be constructed after any approvedpattern, and extends to about the lower edge of the board. The board ismade similar on both sides, so that either side may be used for rubbingpurposes.

C vindicates a bracket, one of which is pivoted to each side of thewash-board in the manner shown in Fig. l. Each bracket O is providedwith a projection or pivotal arm c, which is provided with a suitablehole d, by means of which it may be pivoted to the side of the board.Each bracket C is also provided with a segmental slot h, which is struckon a curve,

which is the arc of a circle of which the hole d is the center. As hereshown, that portion of the bracket inside of the slot is cut away inorder to make the bracket lighter; but, if desired, the slot may be mademuch narrower and with parallel sides.

e indicates a pin,`one of which is secured to each side of theWash-board in such manner that it will act as a guide for the bracket C,being at such a distance from the pivotal point of the bracket that itwill t in the angles of the bracket and thereby form a stop to limit itsaction.

Each bracket is provided on its outer edge with hooks f, which areadapted to t over the edge of the tub, as shown in Fig. l.

The operation of my device is as follows: After the brackets have beenputin position on the boards, the hooks f at one end of the brackets arehooked overthe edge of the tub, when the upper part of the wash-boardwill rest upon the edge of the tub and the lower part will be supportedby the lower ends of the bracket, which will then bear against theinside of the side of the tub. lVhen pressure is brought to bear uponthe board, as in rubbing the clothes or material to be washed, the pinse in the brackets will firmly hold the board in position. Vhen it isdesired to use the other side of the board, it may be turned over, whenthe brackets will fall to the other side, the slots b moving on the pinse. The operation of the board will then be as before. This constructionpermits of'ready access to all parts of the tub, as the use of legs isdispensed with and the lower endof the board does not extend to thebottom of the tub.

That which I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a reversible washboard, of brackets C, havingprojecting arms c, pivoted to the sides of the wash-board, segmentalslots b, hooks f, and pins e, adapted to limit the motion of thebrackets, substantially as described.

NELSON B. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, JOHN L. JACKSON.

